How to use the job search allowance calculator
Looking for work outside your own commuting area gets expensive fast. Enter the distance, the travel cost and the lodging cost for the trip to see how much of it a job search allowance would cover and how much you would still pay yourself.
Legal basis - there is no general federal reimbursement for job hunting travel. The programme that does this is the Trade Adjustment Assistance job search allowance at 19 U.S.C. ยง2296(b), with a companion relocation allowance at ยง2296(c), administered under 20 C.F.R. Part 618. Both reimburse a set share of allowable costs, commonly 90 percent, up to a statutory dollar cap, and both require prior approval before the trip. Figures are current as of September 2026 and have been amended before, so confirm the rate and cap with your state TAA coordinator.
Korea pays a comparable wide area job search allowance through employment insurance to any claimant sent by the job centre beyond a set distance, so its coverage is broader than the trade affected group served in the United States. This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney or your state workforce agency about your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The job search allowance normally has to be applied for and approved before the trip, and the job search itself must fall inside a deadline tied to your separation or training end date. Travel booked first is often refused.
No. The job search allowance covers a trip to look for work, while the relocation allowance covers actually moving for a job that has been offered. They have separate applications, separate deadlines and separate caps.